Many Indy Stars Revere the Salt
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Many Indy Stars Revere The Salt Astonishingly, until this year, I had awhile and get your lakester running! other car was a rear engine. racing luck with mixed results. never covered “the greatest spectacle”, End personal segue. Reaching way back, we find my all- Indy Ace Tony Bettenhausen drove aka the Indy 500. As a veteran motor- Let’s start with names that most LSR time land speed racing hero, Frank on the salt in 1955 setting 18 Internation- sports journalist, my brain would have folks know, but may not realize they had Lockhart who, at the 1926 Indianapolis al Records in the F Class (1.500 cc) exploded to just be a spectator, so I put ties to Indiana oval. Those people that 500, was a relief driver for Peter Kreis’s records in an OSCA sports car with together a little track lapping activity. have a year and speed in parentheses indi- eight cylinder supercharged Miller. He c-driver Marshall Lewis. The idea was for land speed, drag, jet cates Bonneville 200MPH Club won the race becoming the fourth rookie Among other Indy racers who also and rocket racer Paula Murphy, aka “Miss membership. ever to do so. Lockhart, you will remem- drove on the salt you’ll find such names STP” to reprise her milestone role as the For instance, cheerful and always ber, together with the Stutz Automobile as: Dan Gurney, Rex Mays, Jack McGrath, first woman ever allowed to drive a race charming Leroy Newmayer (1953 Company, broke World Land Speed Cliff Bergere, Wilbur D’Alene, Bud Rose, car upon the venerable brickyard oval. -211.390MPH) built engines for A.J. Foyt Record in 1926 recording an average of Manny Ayulo, Billy Scott, Joe Nikrent, Without Andy Granatelli, Chevrolet and was Tony Adamowicz’s crew chief at 164.28 MPH. Dempsey Wilsom, Jimmy Jackson. Motor Division, the Indianapolis Motor the 1970 Indy 500. Multiple speed record Ab Jenkins, the “king of Bonneville While not Indy drivers, many Indy Speedway Public Rela- racers”, entered a Stude- celebs got in their early speed licks at the tions and Photography baker-powered Rigling dry lakes. They are: Sandy Belond and staff, the deed would driven by Tony Gulotta in Frank Curtis, whose cars later won the not have been done. the 1931 Indy 500. Son Indy 500; Lou Fagole was an Indy car It was in the early Marvin Jenkins did some owner; Bob Estes drove on Muroc before ‘60s that Granatelli NOVI test-driving at Indy. World War II then sponsored cars at brought the howling Danny “on-the-gas” Indy. Indy whizz kids Jim Travers and 800HP+ Novi engine Ongais qualified for a doz- Frank Coon raced at the lakes. Efferves- to Indy. Murphy en 500s and also drove a cent Louie Senter brought cars to the climbed in distinguish- new 1969 Mustang on the lakes and the salt. ing herself with a few salt in 1968 for Mickey Metal master, Quinn Epperly, noted perfect laps before Thompson. Ongais helped for his Spirit of America hand-formed stopping in the pits to set National and Interna- aluminum bodywork, built a variety of touch-up her lipstick. tional Class C records Indy car bodies. The 167.28 CID endurance records averag- How about the mechanics? A great STP/Novi V8 had a ing nearly 160 MPH in many brickyard wrench-spinning notables revised 2-stage centrif- wet, slippery salt for 500 also distinguished themselves on the salt, ugal supercharger with miles. many setting records. They include: Har- bore and stroke of 3.2 Lakes racer Chuck ry Miller who designed the record-setting x 2.6 in. The engine Daigh tried, but wasn’t fast Gulf-Miller; Jean Marcenac, Chief never found its way enough to qualify for the Mechanic on NOVI; Jerry Eisert ran into the Indy winner’s 500 a couple of times. Stu Muroc and was a top USAC mechanic in circles, but few engines Hilborn’s Fuel Injector has the 1960s, the same for Indy chief were as celebrated in motorsports. setter Mike Nish (1996 - 304.700MPH) 34 wins at the Indianapolis 500. mechanic Pete Clark. After a quick photo session under the competed in four CART races. Barney Navarro attempted to get Phil Remington, who can build or fix Gasoline Alley Sign we moved onto pit Ermie Immerso (1956 - one of his cars qualified for the Indy 500 anything on any race car, started at the row for a few more shots. Lyn St. James 212.900MPH) was involved with the for three years in the late 1960s, but han- lakes and went to Indy with Gurney’s stopped by to lend her support and then Ford Indy engines, crewed for Jimmy dling and driver problems kept the car off Eagles; Indy mechanic Willie Utzman; it was time for Paula’s laps. Bryan at the ‘54 Indianapolis 500 and the starting grid. Powered by a twin tur- Bonneville racer Dick Russell built Indy She eased the 2010 silver Camaro worked for Carroll Shelby as the engine- bocharged 199 cubic inch Rambler engine engines for Parnelli Jones. turned out in its “500” colors out of the shop foreman during the ‘60s. with Navarro-designed mechanical fuel Stewart Van Dyne built engines for pit lane chute making for the middle of Mickey Thompson (1958 - injection, it put out over 700 horsepower. lakes and Bonneville cars as well as an turn one. I marveled at how effortlessly 266.860MPH) the ultimate salt warrior, Mechanical genius Bruce Crower Indy-winning motor for Roger Penske. Murphy reconnected with the track built a number of Indy cars during his who ran many forward-thinking vehicles Johnny Moore, the Firestone repre- although it had been decades since last storied racing career. He was, in 1962, the on the salt was invited to work on the sentative who brought race tires to the she was upon its banked surface. The laps first to have a rear engine, aluminum Offy-powered Dean Van Lines Indianap- salt that significantly improved the breed, were perfect every time. stock block Buick V8 car qualify at the olis racing car with Jimmy Bryan in 1954. worked the garages and suites at Indy. Decades ago, it was commonplace Indy 500 with Dan Gurney driving. They qualified on the front row and fin- Did you know that Carroll Shelby for people, cars and parts to move among Rear engine again in 1963, but now ished second. Six years later, working on set endurance records in an Austin-Healy various motorsports segments and I won- powered by Small Block Chevrolet, M/T Jim Rathmann’s team, they won the 1960 at the salt? He later brought a turbine car dered how many “Indy Car” big names had two cars qualify. The drivers were race and was again working with the win- to Indy with Ken Wallace. had experienced the speed lure of Bonn- Duane Carter who qualified 15th and Al ners as a member of Graham Hill’s team, Tommy Lee and Mal Ord drove at eville. Miller who qualified 31st. and a final time in 1967 with the A.J. Foyt the lakes and when Lee entered a car at A call to LSR historian and sweet- M/T managed two more qualifiers in team. Indy Ord was his Chief mechanic. Lakes heart of a guy, Jim Miller, yielded a 1964. The cars were driven by rookie Fred Carrillo, who ran the lakes and racers Hal and George Robson both went treasure trove of names. Miller’s father, driver Dave MacDonald who qualified lost a leg in a Bonneville crash, owned to Indy to drive and George won in 1946. Eddie Miller Sr., was not only an Indy 14th and Eddie Johnson who qualified racecars and had an entry in the India- You can win a race anywhere in the Car driver, but also a AAA Contest Board 24th. There was a crash on the first lap napolis 500 for 10 years, never failing to world, but it is only one race and unless observer for many Bonneville-based and MacDonald was killed. qualify with partner Doug Champlin. you win every one after that, your World Land Speed Record runs. By 1967 it was an all-new theme for Indy 500 winners A.J. Foyt, Wilber achievement is eclipsed by those who Begin personal segue: Jim, thanks M/T at Indy. One was a front engine all Shaw, Eddie Meyer, Sam Hanks and Bob- buddy, but forget those damn archives for wheel drive and all wheel steer, and the by Unser have all tried their land speed Continued on page 217 14 ❙ September.2009 Gaz_Sept09.inddGaz Sept09.indd 14 7/15/09 9:21:42 AM Fuel For Thought My web site has many of my models, Proverbs. Proverbs 4:1 helps to focus on Make: Studebaker Commander Continued from Page 14 featuring the Goodguys feature models what is an ultimate desire in a good father and several models from the 1970’s, dis- and son relationship. “Hear, O sons, a Engine: come after you. At Bonneville, the mea- played with complete descriptions. The father’s instruction, and be attentive that GM LT1 350, EFI, Hedman sure is made against the clocks, not your address is: www.sonic.net/~joymkrs/dahm you may gain insight…” while Proverbs headers, Ron Francis ignition contemporaries. Some records stand for Modeling questions? Email them to 10:1 as well as repeated in 15:20 that decades and that is why a land speed me at: [email protected]. I will be happy reads, “A wise son makes a glad father...” Drivetrain: record set upon the Bonneville Salt Flats to answer your questions by email and I believe to this end, Marc has done that 4L60E trans with a Lokar Shifter is a pedigree that many Indianapolis rac- some of your questions may appear in very thing, not only with his dad Gary, ers decided they just had to have.